I don't know how many of you are aware that the European football championship is about to start (that would be soccer to some of you). Football is big over here. And Basel is one of the host cities....

Ever heard of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)? They've sold exclusive rights to various sponsors for the entire championship inside and outside the stadium... which means that the only beer any Basel restaurant or bar in the fan zone is allowed to sell for the duration is Carlsberg. They're not allowed to have sun shades, beer mats or beer glasses with any other beer logo on either. And you're even not supposed to wear a T-shirt or hat with the logo of any other beer...

Three restaurants, right in the centre of the officially designated fan zone, have refused... so they reached a compromise: they're going to put up a 2 m high fence round them from midday to midnight, to put them "outside" the fan zone again.

And if there's one place I'm going to visit during this whole football hooha, its going to be one of those three places there! Bet I won't be alone?

One local Basel brewery has issued a T-shirt with "Basel: more than just Calrsbreg" and its own brand name (Unser Bier, in case you wondered) - I'll be sure to be wearing one when I go for that beer...

Missing the Brits, we've decided to adopt the Italian (Azzurre). We watched the last World Cup Italy - Germany game in a bar (overtime), and the Italy - France (shootout) final at home. That was excellent.

As strange as that marketing frenzy is, I don't think it's as odd as what happened in Germany during the World Cup. If I understand correctly, Budweiser somehow got exclusive rights to stadium sales. In GERMANY!

Ed, I remember when I was watching the Germany World Cup on TV that I thought it was strange to see Budweiser advertisements. I never confirmed this one way or the other, but one of my friends was actaully in Germany during the cup and told me that Budweiser was only allowed to advertise, and could not sell any of their beer in Germany. My friend said Budweiser brand beer did not meet the strict German Beer requirment of only having four ingredients. I'm not sure if four ingredients is all you need. I don't know much about beer, other than the fact it tastes really good. Even better when its served really cold, at any sporting event.

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